Friday, April 25, 2014

Zooey Deschanel To Star In Dark Comedy 'The Driftless Area'

Actress Zooey Deschanel is heading back to the big screen, with a lead role confirmed in dark comedy The Driftless Area.

It’s three years since the 34-year-old last appeared in a movie (2011′s Your Highness), as she focused her efforts on three seasons of her hit Fox sitcom New Girl, but has now signed on for the film adaptation of Tom Drury’s 2006 novel.

Deschanel is on board to play Stella, an enigmatic woman who wins the heart of a bartender named Pierre (played by Only Lovers Let Alive star Anton Yelchin), who has been forced back to his hometown following the death of his parents.

When the two fall in love, Pierre ends up unwittingly being pitted against volatile criminal Shane (played by John Hawkes), reports The Wrap.

The Driftless Area will be directed by Zachary Sluser, who co-wrote the screenplay with Drury. Production will be handled by Keith Kjarval and Bron’s Aaron L. Gilbert of Unified Pictures. Filming begins next month, May 14, in Vancouver.

Zooey also has a second comedy movie in the pipeline as she continues to edge her way back onto the big screen. This June filming will start on Rock the Kasbah, which tells the story of a has-been rock manager’s musical misadventures in Afghanistan.

Deschanel joins a cast that already includes veterans Bill Murray and Bruce Willis, as well as Kate Hudson and Danny McBride. Shia LaBeouf was due to be involved, but decided to pull out of the project last month.